Sex, Lies, and Vampires

'Let go of him, Adrian,' I said, watching as the blue lights down the road grew brighter. 'We can't fight everyone.'

'Nor do you have to,' Christian said, his voice just a smidge hoarse. I had to give the vamp credit—I doubt that anyone else could have been throttled by Adrian and still be able to talk. 'I am not your enemy. I am here to help you.'

'I don't believe you,' Adrian hissed. 'You lie.'

I shook my head at him, tugging on his arm. Damian stood behind the protection of his father, watching us all with bright, interested eyes. He didn't look afraid of Christian as he had Saer. 'It doesn't matter if he's lying or not,' I said. 'We have to run. That traffic jam you left at the last intersection isn't going to stop the police for long.'

Christian held up his hand. 'I know now that it is Saer who is responsible for your son being held by Asmodeus, and that is the reason you sought the ring. I offer you my protection against your brother.'

The mummies made it out of the van in one piece, hurrying toward us with happy little cries. An approaching car caught the weird trio in its headlights. The terrified driver slammed on the brakes, immediately shifted into reverse, and backed down the road until it crashed into an oncoming truck.

'Why would you offer to help us now when you have tried to kill me so many times in the past?' Adrian asked, his face hard with anger.

'It is your Beloved who made me realize the truth.'

'She's your Beloved? Oh, no, now we're never going to get rid of her,' Damian moaned.

I jerked Adrian's arm, ignoring the warning growl that resulted, shoving myself between the two men until I had Adrian's attention. 'Look, it doesn't matter why he's had a change of heart, he has. So let's take advantage of it, because those guys'—I pointed down the street to where a phalanx of police cars was trying to circumnavigate the multi-car pile-up that blocked the intersection—'aren't going to take long before they go around the block! We've got to get out of here or we'll spend the rest of our unnatural lives in jail for antiquities theft.'

'There is a threat much greater than the police,' Christian added. His black eyes met Adrian's. 'Your brother has raised an army, and is joined by Sebastian. Together they seek to destroy you, your Beloved, and your son.'

Adrian hesitated. I put my hand on his chin and turned his face so he was looking at me. I was pinned between the two men, Adrian still holding Christian in a death grip. 'We have no choice, love. We've run out of options. We have to trust him.'

'You ask me to trust the man who just a few days ago planned to execute me? The man who would see you dead without a single regret? Why do you ask this of me?'

'I give you my word that I will not harm any of you,' Christian said quietly.

I ignored him as I leaned forward to brush a kiss against Adrian's lips. Damian made gagging noises. 'Why do I trust him? Simple, lambykins. He's the only man who's shown the good sense to believe what I tell him.'

Chapter Eighteen

'I don't like this.'

'I know you don't, my little spaetzel. But I am too worn out to run from both the police and your murderous twin, and Damian's looking peaky, plus Christian did apologize for trying to kill us earlier.'

'I wasn't talking about that. It's your lamentable habit of using completely unsuitable love names for me that gives me grief,' Adrian groused. 'I am not a lambypie, nor am I a spaetzel.'

'I believe it is a habit common to Americans.' Christian, who was escorting us down a hallway toward the bedrooms of his house in a classy section of London, cocked an eyebrow at Adrian. 'Has she called you snugglebunny yet? It is a particularly loathsome appellation, and yet American women seem to find it strangely charming. My own Beloved uses it frequently.'

'Snugglebunny!' Adrian shot an outraged glare over his shoulder at me, silencing my giggles. 'She would not dare. I am the Betrayer!'

Christian paused before a door, sweeping it open with a grand gesture for me to enter. 'To set matters correct, I would never have killed you, Charmer. It was only the Betrayer's death we sought. I trust you will be comfortable in here.'

I looked around the large bedroom, too tired to care even if we were back at Belinda's back room with the narrow cot. I rallied a smile, poking Adrian in the side with my elbow. 'Thank you, it looks wonderful. Doesn't it look wonderful, honey pants?'

Christian rolled his eyes. Adrian scowled. 'The room is tolerable.'

'Mister Gratitude,' I said under my breath as I turned to Christian. 'Please excuse Adrian. He really is a nice man beneath that harsh exterior.'

'I am the Betrayer. I am not nice.'

Christian looked as if he wanted to smile but didn't dare.

'He's just not used to having anyone do anything for him,' I told him.

'Dark Ones fear my very name!'

'Nor is he used to accepting help,' I explained, feeling it necessary that Christian understand just how isolated Adrian had been all these long centuries. 'Being bound to a demon lord really did a number on his ability to trust, but he's getting better.'

'Death and destruction follow in my wake!' Adrian yelled, indignation filling his eyes. I kissed the tip of his nose until his irises darkened to a clear sapphire.

Christian burst into laughter.

'You see what I must tolerate?' Adrian demanded of Christian. 'This woman, this Beloved who is bound to me body and soul, she who is everything to me, does not admit to the power and terror I wield.'

'Used to wield,' I pointed out, wrapping my arms around him and kissing his chin. 'Now that we've got the ring, we're going to take care of that curse, so it'll be bye-bye, Betrayer, hello, happy Adrian.'

'She treats me as if I am a mortal man,' Adrian continued. 'Me! One who has seen darkness that would kill a mere mortal!'

Christian's laughter faded as his eyes narrowed on me. 'It is like that also with my Beloved. She has no respect for what it is to be a Dark One. They do not understand, these Americans, just how dangerous we can be. When angry, Allegra refers to me as Fang Boy.'

They both looked at me, Christian with speculation, Adrian with outrage, as if I were to blame for Allie's choice of words. 'Hey,' I said, holding up my hands. 'I'm innocent.'

'See that you stay that way,' Adrian said softly as Allie, Damian, and the mummies came into the room.

'They can stay in Christian's study,' Allie was saying. 'It has a TV My ghosts love it, so I think your stepmother's mummies would like it, too.'

'She's not my stepmother!'

'No?' Allie looked from me to Adrian. 'I thought you two were Joined?'

'We are,' I said, extracting myself from the group hug with which the mummies felt it necessary to greet me after a prolonged absence of roughly thirty seconds. 'But neither Damian nor I were expecting each other, so we've got some issues to work out.'

'She stinks,' the annoying little snot said. I made mean eyes at him.

Allie, who had started moving toward her husband, stopped at the look he gave her. 'What's wrong?'

'Snugglebunny' Christian answered.

'Do not forget Fang Boy,' Adrian added helpfully, glaring at the nearest mummy as he wrapped his arm around me and hauled me to his side. 'My Beloved would never be so discourteous as to refer to me in such a flippant manner.'

'Not so long as you watch your step, my little love potato,' I answered.